Trap



June 17, 1924. 1,497,816

' W. A. WELBOURN TRAP Filed July 24, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l f//QZ `lune 17, 1924. 1,497,816

W. A. WELBOURN TRAP Filed July 24, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ifi-4 Za/w@ yf@ fw 7 @y /Q mi@ @s Patented June 17, 1924.

rA'rEs WIILLIAIVI A. WELBO'URN, OF SUMMIT, ILLINOIS.

TRAP.

Application filed July 24, 1922. Serial No. 577,079.

To all whom t may concern: y

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A.' WEL- rBoURN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Summit, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Traps, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to improvements' in traps, and more particularly to traps used for catching various sizesof animals'such as bear, lynx, rmuslniat, mink Or the like. l

The invention has among its objects the production ofa device of the kinddescrbed which is simple, convenient, compact, durable, reliable, efficient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

One of the objects of my invention is to y provide a trap .of the kind described which, when sprung, will clamp the animal about lthe body between a pair of jaws so as to squeeze it and withoutinjury to its fur; and

reliably prevent ,itsl escape.

, Another object of my invention is to'provvide a trap of the kind described which is l operable in either of two positions, as desired.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shownk and described j will be obvious to those'skilled in the art 3Q from the disclosures herein given.

and more particularly pointed voutin theV claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Fig. ,1 is a top plan vievx7 of the trap in its set position; y f

Fig. -2 is a position; j Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Y

Figs. 5 and 6 are front and side elevations of the trap as setlin itsk other position.

In the drawings, 'wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 and 2 indicate the arms or jaws of the trap, these arms being of any desired size and material, preferably of the shape shown, and preferably both of them being identical, so as to be interchangeable. These frontpelevation thereof in set jaws are pivotally connected vtogether only at their lower ends by a pin 3 or thev like, and are mounted between the arms 4, of a bracket member or base 5. Intermediate their ends each of the jaws 1 and 2, are preferably provided with a laterally offset en-` y largement or abutment 6, flattened on its Vface so that ywhen thefjaws' 1 and y2 are brought together these abutments will'form stops to engage each other on their flatjfaces and prevent further movement ofthe jaws past one another, and maintain the ,lower portions of said jaws substantially in'alignment, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Equivalent means for the same purpose may be employed. v

A suitablespring member 7 is loosely'arv encircle and lock the lower portions ofthe jaws together' when in their registering position, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 2, the

spreading movement of the legs of the spring being limited bythe heel portions 8 ofthe jaws 1 and 2. Y f

`A bar or latch/9 or its equivalent for the purpose is pivotally mounted at Yone end upon the base member 5, as shown` most yclearlyin Fig. 3, and is adapted to engagingly overlie one of the jaw members, as

for instance the member 1, when the jaws are in their set position. .y y

A.V trencher pan or platelO is loosely pivoted at 14 to an eye 11, arranged on the bracket or base member 5 the same having a latch portion or shoulder 12 to overlie and engage theA free end of the bar 9.y The eye member 11, see Figs. 2 and 5, is preferably formed by providing a pair of short spaced arms on the base member, adapted to be in` serted through the aperture 14l provided on the trencher member 10, and the outer or free ends of the arms brought togetherfto prevent the' accidental disengagement of the trencher member therefrom. It is obvious that when the trap is in the set position with *the trencher pan overlying the bar 9, that the spring 7 eXerts a pressure upwardly of the arms, tending to move them toward one' or pressure brought to bear on the trencher pan will release the bar 9 and cause the jaws to fly toward each other to clamp anlanimal therebetween. The trencher pan l() is preferably tapered in width at its free end and in the modification shown in Figs. l to et inclusive the pan is arranged parallel or longitudinally of the aws l and 2. rlhe trencher is pivotally mounted and may be larranged at any preferred angle relative to the jaws, as indicatedV in dotted lines in F ig.,1.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. and

. 6, the trap is preferably dropped into an animals hole orrunway 13, with one jaw, as for instance jaw l, entirely below the top of Ythe, hole, while Vthe jaw ,'21s brought towardthe other jaw so that its free end is closely adjacent the top of the hole. Fric- :tion or other suitable means serve to cause the jaw 2, tov remain in such set position. In

this position in the preferable mode vof setting, an yanimal must insert its body, or a portion thereof, past and between said jaws `to reach the trencher pan l0. The pan l() in the presentinstance is preferably arranged longitudinally of or parallel to Vthe jaws 1 and 2 or at any preferred angle theretobecause as the trencher is pivotally supported, it may be arranged at such angle as i is preferred. As soon as Vthe trencher pan .close about the animal.

is stepped on by the animal the spring snaps the jaws together permitting the jaws to IfY it is'desired to do so, an auxiliary spring 7 may be karranged to supplement the action of the spring 7, as shown in Fig. 6, similar to that generally employed in bear traps and traps forlarger animals.V

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterialmodications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention,

urging said jaws together, a pan secured 'to said base,'and means on said pan arranged i to latch with said latch member for setting said pan in a plurality of different positions to releasably hold said jaws apart.

2. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws curved toward each other at their free ends, said jaws provided with abutments intermediate their ends to limit their movement past one another, means resiliently forcing said jaws together, a pivotally-mounted bar positioned to transversely overlie and engage one of said aws, and a pivotally mounted trencherl pan adjustable either transversely or longitudinally of the last-mentioned jaw to releasably engage with and control said 'pivotallymounted bar. Y

8. In a device of the kind described' and in combination, a trap comprising a base member, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted thereon adjacent one another, said jaws curved toward one another at theirfree ends and each provided with oppositely offset fiat abutments intermediate its ends, whereby said jaws will engage at said abutments to form a stop to limit their movement `past one another, a spring loosely mounted intermediate said base and jaws to urge said jaws together to clamp an object therebetween, a bar pivotally mounted on said base -to overlie one ofl said jaws laterally thereof,rand a trencher pan pivotally connected to said base member and tapered in width at its free end to releasably engage with said bar when arranged either longitudinally orwlaterally of said jaws.

ll. In a device of the kind ldescribed and in combination, a trap comprising a base member, a pair of jaws pivotally mounted thereon provided with oppositely oHset abutnients intermediate their ends to limit their movement past one another, a spring mounted intermediate said base and jaws to urge said jaws together to clamp anl object therebetween, a bar pivotally mountedn on said base to transversely overlie one of said jaws, and a trencher pan pivotally connected to said base member to releasably engage with said bar when arranged either longitudinally or laterally of said aws.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my naine in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. WELB'OURN.

llVitnesses:

JOHN W. HILL,

RUTH M. lilisrnanir.y 

